Seat attachment for bathtubs



Oct. 7, 1947. w. H. BRETT f SEAT ATTACHMENT FORV BATHTUBS Filed May 12, 1945 www' l a Il. vllvlna.. lllllllll 3 @Ufff Patented Oct. 7, `1947 SEAT ATTACHMENT FOR BATHTUBS William H. Brett, Alliance, Ohio. assigner to Alliance Ware, Incorporated, Alliance, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application May 12, 1945, Serial No. 593,373

(Cl. c,1 -185) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a bathtub and, in particular, to an attachment adapted to provide a seat edge for a, relatively inexpensive type of tub.

Seat-edge tubs have been installed in considerable numbers since their introduction. Tubs of this type, however, usually command a higher price than ordinary tubs and are thus not suitable for installation in moderate-priced homes needed to supply the largest portion of the demand for dwelling units.

I have invented a tub which can be made at relatively low cost, having a separately formed attachment adapted to provide a seat edge extending from the rim thereof. The tub with the attachment thus gives the same advantage in respect to the seat edge as much more expensive tubs. The seat edge has been provided on tubs as made heretofore by increasing the width of the rim between the outer side wall of the tub and the apron depending therefrom and usually integral therewith. In another form of tub, the rim is made substantially square and large enough to accommodate the body or well of the tub diagonally, thus affording extended seating area in diagonally opposite corners of the rim adjacent both sides of the tub Well. It is evident that either of these forms of seat-edge tubs involves an increased manufacturing cost as compared to tubs without a seat edge.

In a preferred embodiment of my invention, I provide a simple, inexpensive tub having a relatively narrow rim around the body orwell and without any apron depending from the rim on the outer side of the tub. I also provide a seat attachment preferably in the form of a sheet metal stamping, adapted to engage the rim of the tub on the outer side thereof and extend downwardly to the floor. The invention is particularly adapted to a relatively new form of installation in which the tub is fully enclosed by permanent walls except for an entrance door at one side, thus giving the effect of a shower stall but making it possible for the user to take a bath while seated in the tub in the ordinary manner. The tub rim and attachment have interengaging means whereby the attachment is firmly secured to the tub. The attachment, furthermore, may be enameled to harmonize with the tub as to character and color of surface finish.

Further details, novel features and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the following complete description which refers to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment. In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a horizontal section through the wall enclosing the tub having the seat attachment thereon, the tub and attachment being shown in plan;

Figure 2 is a front'elevation; and

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken along the plane of line III--III of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, a tub IE! includes a body or well II defined by side walls I2 and I3, end walls I4 and I5 and a body IS. A rim I'I extends entirely around the body and is provided with an upturned flange I8 which is preterably continuous around the entire perimeter cf the rim. The tub body has a drain outlet I9 and an overflow outlet 20 is located in the end wall Iii.

The tub I0 is supported on stringere 2l secured to the studs of walls 22 and 23 on opposite sides of the tub. The wall 23 has a door 24 therein and walls 25 and 26 complete the enclosure for the tub.

An attachment 21 preferably in the form of a sheet-box-like-metal stamping suitably enameled, has a hat top or Seat portion 28 extending outwardly from the rim flange IB and across the width of the door 24. The attachment also has a front wall or apron 29 depending from the seat portion to the floor level and may conveniently have an inturned ange 3D forming a foot. The apron 29 is inclined inwardly, for the most part, from the seat portion 28 to the foot 30. This affords toe room for a person standing close to the tub. The apron may also be beveled as at 3l and recessed as at 32 to improve its appearance.

A downturned ange 33 is formed on the inner edge of the seat portion 28 and is adapted to hook over the upturned flange I8 of the tub rim as best shown in Figure 3. The seat attachment is thus firmly anchored to the tub and the joint therebetween is almost wholly concealed. The foot 3Il of the attachment, of course, may be secured to the oor by suitable fasteners.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the invention provides a seat edge for an inexpensive tub, having practically all the advantages and desirable features of seat-edge tubs which have been made heretofore to sell only at a premium price. The tub I0 may readily be drawn from sheet steel and the attachment 21 made in the same manner. The absence of the usual apron extending along the full length of one side of the tub materially reduces the cost. At the same time, the apron portion of the seat attachment provides the same type of appearance for the only portion of the tub sidewall which is not concealed by the walls 0f the enclosure in which it is installed. The seat attachment itself,

of course, may be made at low cost and its installation involves nothing beyond merely setting it in place after the tub hasbeen installed.

Although I have illustrated and described a preferred embodimentl of the tub and attachment of my invention, it Will be understood that changes in the details thereof may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An attachment for a bathtub having a rim With an upstanding ange extending along one side thereof at least, said attachment comprising Y a sheet-metal box adapted to be disposed with its Width vertical on said side of the tub, said box being open on the side adjacent the tubY y and having a top terminating on the side adjacent the tub in a downturned ange adapted to hook over said rst-mentioned flange, said box also including an apronextending downwardly from the other side of said top to the oor.

4 2. AAn attachment for a bathtub as defined by claim 1 characterized by said apron sloping inwardly toward the bottom of the tub.

3. An attachment for a bathtub as defined by Y claim 1 characterized by said apron being beveled inwardly toward the tub at both ends.

4. An attachment for a bathtubas dened by claim 1 characterized by said apron terminating in an inturned flange forming a foot adapted to have latwise engagement with the floor.

WILLIAM H. BRETT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

i UNITED STATES PATENTS Y Stuart V. Dec. 16, 1919 i 

